Ricochet Dog Training

31/08/2025

Burned-out and overwhelmed?
Practical, kind dog training for frustrated owners across GL11–GL13 & BS35 that works in real life. Without shame.

You don’t hate your dog. You hate feeling stuck.
We’ve all muttered “Why are you like this?” at 7am. Dog training for frustrated owners starts with ditching the shame. Dogs aren’t robots; you’re not a failure. You just need a plan that considers sleep, school runs, and a brain that’s already fried.

How we train when life is "A Lot"
- Make it doable or it won’t happen.

We train in tiny reps, stack small wins, and use rewards that matter to your dog. Four-dog groups mean coaching time for everyone and space for big feelings. Consistency beats intensity.

Spaces that don’t judge
- Inclusive by design.

Quiet corners, clear structure, and choice. Neurodiverse, anxious, and first-time owners are welcome. Children under 16 can handle with a parent present (I’m DBS checked). Whole family may attend; we keep kids safe and seated during sessions.

Try writing your dog’s “Yes List” (five things that work when life wobbles—sniffing, food puzzles, car decompression). Stick it on the fridge.

Courses that fit real life
- Impulse Control (Tue 6pm, 75 mins) at Stone Village Hall—skills that survive the park or café.
- PAYG Fun Pet Gundogs (Sat 11:30, 75 mins) at Ace Secure Dog Field, Itchington—outdoor games, big grins.
- PAYG Gundog Puppies (Sat 2:15, 60 mins)—foundations without the pressure cooker.
- Scent Work Beginners (Tue 7:30, 75 mins)—calm, confidence, connection.

Dog training for frustrated owners means you get skills, support and a laugh when you need it most. Bring your messy middle. We work there.

29/08/2025

Start scent work for beginners in Gloucestershire Stone Village Hall Gloucestershire
Fun, inclusive classes that build calm and confidence for real dogs and real life.

Not perfect. Just curious noses.

Ever felt like everyone else’s dog was born “well-behaved” and yours is auditioning for chaos? Same. That’s why scent work for beginners in Gloucestershire exists: it lets your dog use the superpower they already have. Their nose - while you enjoy seeing them calm down and switch their brain on.

Why scent work works (and why your dog chills after)
Sniffing is natural, soothing, and tiring in the right way.

Scent games tap into foraging instincts. Dogs problem-solve, which channels energy into the brain rather than frantic zoomies. It’s perfect for anxious, reactive, or “too much” dogs because they can work at a distance, with visual barriers and choice built in.

What “science-based” means here
We reward what we want and set up the environment to help dogs win.

I teach behaviours, not punish mistakes. No bullying. No aversives. No dodgy TikTok hacks. We keep sessions short, break tasks down, and celebrate tries.

Swap “No!” for “Do this”. For example, reward a nose touch to your hand when your dog is unsure. Give them a job, not a telling-off.

How classes are set up for comfort
Small, quiet, and flexible feels safer for dogs and humans.

Four dogs max. Step-away spaces. Clear structure. We use indoor and outdoor areas at Stone Village Hall, and you choose your dog’s working distance.

Who I am (and why that matters)
Am-dram and a dash of burlesque taught me pacing, playfulness and confidence-building. I run classes like a good show: clear beats, big laughs, solid takeaways. Scent work for beginners in Gloucestershire should feel like a friendly rehearsal, not an exam.

Scent work for beginners in Gloucestershire is for real life and real dogs - messy, marvellous, and learning at their own pace. Come sniff things and exhale.

Book now: https://ricochetdogtraining.as.me/schedule/e5d38e78/?appointmentTypeIds[]=81423230

25/08/2025

23/08/2025

Back to School… For Dogs

Your dog might not need a backpack, but they do need a proper job.
Sign up for Scent Detection or Impulse Control at Stone Village Hall and get a “back to school” £10 off.

Bring a new friend to scent detection and you BOTH get £10 off.

Book both courses and get £10 off your second course as well.

No uniforms, no homework, just noses, brains, and maybe a little chaos.

Starts Tuesday 2nd September. Small groups, max 4 handlers.

Message to grab a spot before the bell rings.

23/08/2025

A while back I invested in a Kickstarter project for a dog treat pouch.

It finally arrived!!
The Daily Trainer: Double Compartment Pouch with silicone inserts (Forest Green).

Excited to test drive it when I pick my girls up from kennels.

Review to follow.

22/08/2025

Your dog’s not ‘too much’ – They just need an outlet"

Got a spaniel who’s wrecking your house? A Labrador who’s eaten three socks and a shoe this week? A cockapoo who doesn’t stop? You don’t have a “bad dog”. You’ve got a bored one.

So many “problem dogs” aren’t problems at all. They’re gundogs, or part gundogs, or dogs with big brains and busy noses and nowhere to put that energy.

That’s what Fun Pet Gundog is for. We give them an outlet. A job. A way to be them without it turning your house into a scene from The Purge. You don’t need to be a hunter. You just need to show up and let your dog run, sniff, find, carry and think. I’ll guide you through all of it.

And if you’ve ever been told your dog’s “too much”, come spend an hour with me. You’ll realise they’re not too much. They’ve just never had a class that makes sense to them.

Give them one.

Bring the chaos. We’ll turn it into focus. Book your Saturday slot.

https://www.ricochetdogtraining.co.uk/petgundog

21/08/2025

4 Week Scent Detection Course – 3 Spaces Left

Does your dog need more than walks?
Scent detection gives them a proper job. Dogs experience the world mainly through their nose – their sense of smell is thousands of times stronger than ours. When they use it in a structured way, it works their brain as much as their body.

Why it works

- Sniffing lowers heart rate and reduces stress.

- Problem-solving builds focus and mental stamina.

- Finding scent and being rewarded for it boosts confidence.

- It gives dogs an outlet for natural instincts, which means calmer behaviour at home.

- Tired dogs are calmer dogs.

- Brilliant for confidence, especially if your dog can be a bit worried.

- You’ll learn to read your dog’s subtle body language and trust their decisions

- Fun for every breed and every age.

- Perfect for nervous dogs as well as high-energy ones.

- Small group, only 4 handlers, so you and your dog get proper attention.

Mix of indoor and outdoor searches with bags, boxes, furniture and walls.

Starts Tuesday 2nd September at Stone Village Hall Gloucestershire at 6pm

3 spaces left. If you want your dog to use their brain as much as their legs, this is it.

https://ricochetdogtraining.as.me/schedule/e5d38e78/?appointmentTypeIds[]=81423230

20/08/2025

Impulse Control for Real Dogs, Not Imaginary Ones

If you’ve ever seen a video of a dog ignoring steak while their owner does yoga next to them. Congrats - you’ve seen fantasy. Most real dogs would have licked that steak and eaten the yoga mat.

Impulse control is not about making your dog sit still forever. It’s about helping them choose to wait, stay calm, and stop hurling themselves at guests or bin bags.

In my Impulse Control for Real Dogs and Real People class, we don’t pretend your dog is a monk. We work with the excited, chaotic, lovely mess in front of us. We teach them that slowing down gets them what they want faster. That thinking first is worth it. That calm isn’t boring, it’s rewarding.

And we teach you how to handle it all without losing your mind or giving up. No judgement. Just useful stuff that actually works.

If your dog’s the one embarrassing you in public or bouncing off the walls at home, this is the class for you.

Five weeks. Tiny groups. Me helping you the whole way through. Booking open now. Next course starts in September. Secure your space.

https://www.ricochetdogtraining.co.uk/loveyourdog

18/08/2025

What even Is a pet gundog class (and Why Is It So Much Fun?)

If you hear “gundog” and picture tweed, whistles and serious blokes in wellies, forget that. Now picture a spaniel wearing mud like it’s a fashion choice, a group of happy chaos-dogs sniffing stuff for fun, and me yelling “GOOD DOG!” with a biscuit in my hand.

That’s Fun Pet Gundog. No pressure. No shouting. Just teaching your dog to use their brain, nose and body in a way that makes sense to them - and calms the madness at home.

Gundog games are all about using what your dog was born to do - hunting, retrieving, staying calm until it’s their turn to shine. We do it in a relaxed way. We laugh when it goes wrong. And we build real focus, impulse control and recall. All while they think we’re just playing fetch.

This isn’t a show. It’s not posh. It’s a bunch of people with busy lives who want a happy, tired dog that listens better. If that sounds like you, we’ll get on fine.

Saturdays at Itchington. Wear old shoes. Bring a dog. Come along to a session.

Dogs with zero clue welcome.

16/08/2025

No, your dog’s not being ‘naughty'. They’re just being a dog

Let’s retire the word ‘naughty’ unless your dog’s sneakily eating chocolate cake and then blaming the cat.
Most of what we label ‘bad behaviour’ is just normal dog stuff: barking, jumping, stealing socks, zooming when you call. They’re not plotting your downfall. They’re just under-trained, overwhelmed, or acting on instinct.

We don’t call a toddler ‘naughty’ for touching everything. We child-proof the house and help them learn. Same with dogs.

If your dog’s “ignoring” you, they probably never really learned what you wanted. That’s not defiance. That’s confusion.

In class, I help people stop expecting human logic from dogs, and start working with what’s actually happening. In a way both sides understand. You don’t need to fix your dog. You need to learn what they’re really saying. And I can help.

Send this to a friend who keeps saying their dog’s “naughty”. Then come unpick it with me